title: Impact of botanical oils on polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism and leukotriene generation in mild asthmatics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dietary supplementation with botanical oils that contain n-6 and n-3 eighteen carbon chain (18C)-PUFA such as γ linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3n-6), stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4n-3) and α linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) have been shown to impact PUFA metabolism, alter inflammatory processes including arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism and improve inflammatory disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  The diet of mild asthmatics patients was supplemented for three weeks with varying doses of two botanical seed oils (borage oil [Borago officinalis, BO] and echium seed oil [Echium plantagineum; EO]) that contain SDA, ALA and GLA. A three week wash out period followed. The impact of these dietary manipulations was evaluated for several biochemical endpoints, including in vivo PUFA metabolism and ex vivo leukotriene generation from stimulated leukocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Supplementation with several EO/BO combinations increased circulating 20-22 carbon (20-22C) PUFAs, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and dihommo-gammalinolenic acid (DGLA), which have been shown to inhibit AA metabolism and inflammation without impacting circulating AA levels. BO/EO combinations also inhibited ex vivo leukotriene generation with some combinations attenuating cysteinyl leukotriene generation in stimulated basophils by >50% and in stimulated neutrophils by >35%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that dietary supplementation with BO/EO alters 20-22C PUFA levels and attenuates leukotriene production in a manner consistent with a reduction in inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology/Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, 27157, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. schilton@wakehealth.edu.
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Arm
authors.forename: Joshua A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Boyce
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chhay
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zahid
authors.forename: Vaishali
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Govindarajulu
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ivester
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sergeant
authors.forename: Elliot
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Israel
authors.forename: Floyd H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Chilton
mesh_terms: D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D036661:Echium / Q000737:chemistry*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000737:chemistry; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D015289:Leukotrienes; D010938:Plant Oils; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; C079363:borage oil; D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid; C026219:docosapentaenoic acid; C062895:stearidonic acid